#uraeginthus cyanocephalus

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[1430/10977] Blue-capped Cordon-Bleu - Uraeginthus cyanocephalus

Order: Passeriformes Suborder: Passeri Superfamily: Passeroidea Family: Estrildidae (estrildid finches)

Photo credit: Gary Douglas via Macaulay Library

[birdstudies]

September 8, 2021 - Blue-capped Cordonbleu or Blue-capped Cordon-bleu (Uraeginthus cyanocephalus)

These waxbills are found in thorn savanna and scrub habitats in parts of Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, and Tanzania. Foraging on the ground, often in small, sometimes mixed-species flocks, they feed on seeds and small insects. They build dense ball-shaped nests with entrance holes on the sides from fine grasses, feathers, and other materials in thorny trees or bushes, where females lay clutches of four to six eggs. Both parents incubate the eggs and feed the chicks.

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Blue-capped cordonbleu (Uraeginthus cyanocephalus).

[sandra1219]

Blue-caped Cordon Bleu Waxbill Chicks on blue-capped-waxbill.com

(Uraeginthus cyanocephalus) is native to Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, South Sudan, and Tanzania in East Africa.

[libutron]

Blue-capped Cordon-bleu

Uraeginthus cyanocephalus (Passeriformes - Estrildidae), the Blue-capped Cordon-bleu, is a small finch native to Africa, that can be found in Sudan, Ethiopia, Somalia, Kenya and Tanzania.

Males of this species can be recognized by having cerulean-blue head, face, breast and flanks; and red bill (as shown in the photo), while females are brown from forehead to crown, the blue on breast is not so extensive, and belly to vent white.

References: [1] - [2]

Photo credit: ©Eric Yanhong

Locality: unknown

[somuchscience]

Blue-capped Cordon-bleu (Uraeginthus cyanocephalus) Estrildidae

Serengeti National Park, Tanzania January 19, 2015 Robert Niese

This is truly remarkable behavior for a Cordon-bleu. Several birds were actively attempting to get inside the nests of several weaver species in the area. We are unsure whether the Cordon-bleus were seeking to parasitize the nests or kill the hatchlings inside. Regardless, the weavers were very unhappy about these aggressive little Estrildids.